This Week’s Indie Comics News Cycle
This is the latest installment of ’ Indie Comics News. This page is a revolving news cycle post and will cease updating at 12pm 27th August AEST. You will find the latest indie comics news included here that are relevant for the week ending 27/8/21. Any news submitted outside of this time frame are counted as News for the following week and as such will be included in Next Week’s News Cycle.
NOTE: Indie Comics News WILL NOT be added retrospectively. Once the week is over, the news cycle is over.
If you have any questions, alterations or would like to submit an Indie Comics news item then send them to
Indie Comics News – 27th August 2021
Blue Fox Comics joins Substack
Blue Fox Comics has set up a newsletter on the Substack platform called ‘A Branching Narrative’, which offers monthly interactive fiction adventures, similar to ‘Arcane Rites: Cult of the Pajoli’ and ‘Innsmouth: The Stolen Child’.
Why Substack?
I’ve been thinking about creating an interactive-fiction based Patreon for a while, but the interface has struck me as a little confusing, and recently Substack has come to my attention, and, after looking into it, I think it works better for me.
What is ‘A Branching Narrative’?
Every month I will be creating a new 125+ paragraph adventure for you to enjoy, with rules similar, but not restricted by, the rules in place for my other gamebooks.
Substack allows subscribers to have a free plan and a paid for plan.
- Everyone on the free plan will receive the first room on the monthly adventure (25+ paragraphs), plus they will receive an overview post on the why and how of creating the adventure
- Everyone who chooses the paid-for plan will receive the full adventure (125+ paragraphs), plus they will receive an in-depth post on the why and how of creating the adventure
- There is also a founding member option, who will receive 1 extra adventure (125+ paragraphs) per year
The paid-for plan is $7 a month, or $70 per year, though there is a 20% off offer valid until 9th Sept.
Some of you may have heard some negative news about Substack recently. I looked into it (I don’t want to approach anything on the internet lightly) and was eventually swayed by James Tynion IV’s post. You can read it here.
Opening Offer
We are running an opening offer of 20% off all subscriptions until the 9th September. To access the offer click the button below.
CHECK OUT THE SUBSTACK OPENING OFFER
My initial post is up on the site – to take a look, click the button below.
A BRANCHING NARRATIVE ON SUBSTACK
What sort of adventures?
I’ll be creating a whole load of one-off adventures in multiple genres including fantasy, sci-fi and horror (with some familiar settings…).
When will they post?
The first adventure will post on Friday September 10th 2021, and is called ‘The Watchtower‘.
NOCTERRA #6 STORY ARC ENDING RAISES STAKES, SELLS OUT AT DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL
Scott Snyder and Tony S. Daniel’s Nocterra #6 is sold out completely at the distributor level. The bestselling series is being rushed back to print by Image Comics in order to keep up with increasing demand for the exciting, story arc conclusion.
You’ve seen the calm…now it’s time for the storm. In Nocterra #6, having unearthed a shocking revelation, Val must prepare for battle before she loses the paradise that she’s risked so much to find.
Nocterra #6, second printing (Diamond Code JUL218738) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, September 22.
Nocterra is also available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.
Indie Comics News – 25th August 2021
Albatross Funnybooks Rushes Eric Powell and Harold Schechter’s “DID YOU HEAR WHAT EDDIE GEIN DONE?” Back to Press
Albatross Funnybooks is going back to press for a second printing of Eric Powell and Harold Schechter’s “DID YOU HEAR WHAT EDDIE GEIN DONE?” ahead of the acclaimed graphic novel’s release in bookstores on August 24th, 2021. The original graphic novel is co-written by Schechter—the author of true crime classics including Deviant and The Serial Killer Files—and Powell—the legendary creator of The Goon and Hillbilly, who illustrates the 200-page book.
Painstakingly researched and illustrated, Schechter and Powell’s true-crime graphic novel presents Gein’s infamous story like never before. The book delves into the twisted history of Ed Gein, his family, and the notorious violence that inspired Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs.
Ambitious and thoroughly researched, the book has received widespread attention:
“Eric Powell and Harold Schechter aim to cut through the myths and reveal the true history of a true American villain.”―IGN
“As extensively researched as the Alan Moore/Eddie Campbell Jack the Ripper graphic novel From Hell, ”Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?” is a masterpiece of the form, standing as the best possible dramatization of Ed Gein’s tale in any medium.”―BLOODY DISGUSTING
“Incredibly horrific.”―COMICS BEAT
“A brand new, and one of a kind perspective on one of the most notoriously deranged murderers in American history.”―SCREENRANT
“Eric Powell and Harold Schechter team up to tell the true story of Ed Gein in a unique format for true crime. I can’t wait!”―John Carpenter (Director of Halloween, The Thing)
“Painstakingly researched.”―HORROR DNA
“Nightmarish.”―PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“A requisite addition to any true crime fan’s library.”―COMICON.COM
“To say I’m excited about this one would be one of the great understatements of the 21st century.”―Mike Mignola (Creator of Hellboy)
“This is a new true crime comics essential.”―SYFY WIRE
DID YOU HEAR WHAT EDDIE GEIN DONE? is available now in comic shops and will be in bookstores on August 24th, 2021. The second printing will be released in late September. For more updates on Albatross Funnybooks and DID YOU HEAR WHAT EDDIE GEIN DONE?, follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
Indie Comics News – 24th August 2021
Iron Circus Comics Presents The Woman and the Woods and Other North American Stories on Kickstarter
Spike Trotman’s Iron Circus Comics is launching a Kickstarter campaign for The Woman and the Woods and Other North American Stories, an all-new anthology of comics inspired by original North American folktales. From the thrilling tale of Chokfi the trickster rabbit, to the stirring story of the White Horse Plains, the book features more than 100 pages of entertaining and educational stories by artists and writers from Indigenous people across the continent.
Stories include:
- “As It Was Told to Me”, a creation tale that shows that the world needs good and bad to exist, which is written and illustrated by Elijah Forbes, a transgender Odawa illustrator who has facilitated the creation of illustration projects such as the 2020 “Trans Awareness Week.”
- “Chokfi,” the story of the trickster rabbit, who is jealous of Otter’s fur coat and tries to steal it, by writer Jordaan Arledge, a trans Chickasaw comic writer and the founder of Arledge Comics, and artist Mekala Nava.
- “White Horse Plains”, a cautionary tale about greed that comes from the Métis settlement St. Francois Xavier, as told by Rhael McGregor, a Non-Binary/Two-Spirit Métis comic artist and animator from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- “Rougarou” by Mystery Solving Lesbians writer Maija Ambrose Plamondon and Métis-based artist Milo Applejohn, about a werewolf-like creature that haunts the Métis communities.
- “Agonjin In the Water” by the non-binary, Ojibawe artist Alice RL, about a girl whose tribe is suffering from a drought and finds a Mishipeshu while searching for water.
- “Woman in the Woods” by the Cuban Taíno artist and storyteller Mercedes Acosta about a curious girl who sees a mysterious figure in the woods at night.
- “Into Darkness” by Izzy Roberts, a Michigan-based illustrator and a member of the Navajo Nation and Kinyaa’áanii clan, about a creature so dangerous and scary that no one dares utter its name.
The anthology is edited and organized by Alina Pete, Kate Ashwin, and Kel McDonald, and the contributors list is curated by Alina Pete, who is Nehiyaw (Cree) and who provides a beautiful cover. The Woman and the Woods and Other North American Stories is the fifth volume of the acclaimed Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales series. It’s the first volume of the series to be published by Iron Circus Comics; the series has previously been crowdfunded by Kel McDonald and Kate Ashwin.
“The acclaimed Cautionary Fables and Fairytales series has been chronicling folktales from around the world for nearly a decade, hopping from Europe to Africa, to Asia, and the Oceania region,” said guest editor and cover artist Alina Pete. “Kids and adults alike have enjoyed these beautifully retold stories. Some have been spooky, and others have been silly, but they are all memorable.”
“We’re thrilled that we’re partnering with Iron Circus Comics for the latest Cautionary Fables and Fairy Tales anthology,” said Kel McDonald. “It’s really helping the series grow.”
“We’re always excited to have the opportunity to showcase the work of incredible independent artists with Cautionary Fables, and this volume is really something special!” said Kate Ashwin. “Everyone has worked hard to bring together a book that will delight both returning readers to the series and new readers alike, and we can’t wait to share it with all.”
For updates follow, Iron Circus Books on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. To support the campaign, head to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ironspike/cautionary-fables-and-fairy-tales-north-america?ref=27nxjm.
Wild Animals. Wilder Adventures. Carriers #1 Out in November
New York City is under attack and only a group of highly trained carrier pigeons can save it in Red 5 Comics’ newest all-ages action epic out this November.
When talking alligators come out of the sewers and wreak havoc, when pirate animals invade the city looking for booty, when Mafioso falcons invade, when danger comes to New York the city needs heroes. And their going to get some, the most unlikeliest of heroes: FABLE, GLADIUS, CHERRYBOMB, THE DARK DOVE. They may not be the heroes New York wanted, they are the ones the city needs.
“The idea of carrier pigeons is something everyone has some understanding of and thinks is cool,” creator Ben Ferrari said. “So when I make comics I want an idea that is as original as can be, as underutilized as possible. So we made a book about weaponized carrier pigeons and their New York adventures. And it strikes a chord with readers as I hoped it would.”
Action adventure for all ages, Carriers packs in animal action adventure in a way that has been a staple of comics back to Disney’s duck stories and beyond. “I’ve been a fan of stories like this since I was a kid watching afternoon cartoons, and I think a lot of new young readers are going to look at Carriers the way I did with the adventure stories I grew up with,” Red 5 co-publisher Joshua Starnes said.
Carriers comes from writer Pilot Studios, created by Ben Ferrari and Erica J. Heflin with new stories by Heflin, and artists Jim O’Riley and Elias Martin. Look for the first five issues of Carriers monthly beginning November 2021 wherever Red 5 Comics are sold.
Starting Now… CHERRY BLACKBIRD #1 goes Metal!
At Scout, they know their fans want the best content and collectables on the market. To that end, they’re proud to introduce their new, ultra-limited, Metal Cover program.
Twice each month, Scout will choose one title to feature. They will then metallize the cover of 100 copies of the comic, creating the ultimate Scout Collectable. These copies will be serialized (1-100) and limited to two per customer.
They will announce the covers the day they go live on their website. (So make sure you’re signed up for their newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/gQs03j).
CHERRY BLACKBIRD #1 Metal Cover is now LIVE!
Indie Comics News – 23rd August 2021
Webcomic series The Pale, returns to Kickstarter with a Remastered Chapter 1
Winner of Best Writing in the 2017 Ghost City Comics Competition and web-comic sensation, The Pale, is returning to Kickstarter to take readers back to where it all began. The campaign kicks off September 7th, featuring a fully remastered Chapter 1 that includes revised artwork, and dialog, as well as exclusive variant cover incentives. There’s never been a better time to discover the dark mystery and supernatural events that are occurring in the small town of Rocket Ridge, Arizona.
The discovery of a body in the Arizona wilderness prompts an FBI linguistic expert to reopen an investigation into a mysterious killer.
Agent Franklin Ink observes the world very differently due to a rare condition called Prosopagnosia. More commonly known as face-blindness, the condition renders a person unable to remember any facial information. Living with this disability has forced Franklin to become hyper-aware of a person’s language and speech patterns as well as subtle nuances in their behavior. It is a skill that will prove useful as he tracks a killer who has evaded law enforcement for years.
The Team
The Pale is a supernatural, character-driven murder mystery set against the stark landscape of the American Southwest. It is co-written by the husband-wife team of Sanders and Jay Fabares, with Jay also handling all of the artwork.
“The Pale has been a true labor of love for my wife and I. Originally, she came to me with this idea of a face-blind detective which I thought was just a really fun concept. It was something that I’d never seen done before, and I was really excited for how it could translate visually into the comic medium. We then went through many, MANY iterations of the script for issue one. If there’s anything that watching and reading mysteries over the years has taught us it is how important the beginning is- you have to have a clear vision and goal. Because of this, we really hashed out the world, characters, the mythology, and the story of The Pale for over a year before we even started building the pages themselves. All that preparation served us well when it came to making Chapter 1, which quickly started developing a loyal following both as an issue at conventions and as a web comic. In 2017, we won “best writing” as well as “runner up for Best Single issue” in the Ghost City Comics Competition. It was a huge moment for us. People liked what we were doing and they were hungry for more. We are currently finishing the script for the second story arc and are more excited than ever for the future of the book. Revisiting chapter one again and seeing the improvements that Jay is making has been great!” -Sanders Fabares, co-writer
“I’ve done a few short comics, but never to this level of planning. I often say that The Pale is our first comic– because it is. This is the comic that taught us how to create comics. Utilizing all the tools that are now in my wheelhouse, remastering the first story arc to match my current comic sensibilities was the first thing we needed to do before moving forward with collecting the chapters into trades. The art is more refined, rules have been set. It feels seamless now… ready for old readers and new readers to fall in love with the story again. “ -Jay Fabares, co-writer & artist
Audience
Due to its cast of eclectic characters and a foreboding atmosphere, The Pale has often been compared to television dramas like Twin Peaks and Fargo. On the surface, it’s a story about the small town drama that occurs when a stranger arrives with a hidden agenda. However, beneath the surface lies a dark, complex mystery which revolves around a vengeful killer and an ancient mythology.
KICKSTARTER
- Tues. Sept 7th, 9am PST
- 16 Day Campaign
- Remastered Chapter artwork & revised dailog
- Offering the original printed chapter (with old art) + Printed Remastered
- Early Bird Special Prices
- Exclusive Kickstarter Variant Covers
- Digital Stretch Goals
Prelaunch
“The Pale is absolutely stunning. The most addictive, well-executed webcomic I have ever read. Their masterful grasp of the crime genre is beautifully showcased in these six chapters. I can’t recommend it highly enough, especially if you’re a fan of small-town murder mysteries.”
-Matt Ligeti, The Comic Book Yeti
“The Pale digs into its characters and its location (…) to create a highly enjoyable comic experience.” – Christa Harader, Outright Geekery
“(…) one of very few comics which has this review
chomping at the bit for more.” – James Blundell, Pipedream Comics
“This was impressive.” – David Howard, Comic Crusaders
“Clan Fabares knows how to tell a story.”- Paul, The Pullbox
Kickstarter Trailer
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